Combination container, cap and sprayer



Nov. 25, 1958 R. MELLON COMBINATION CONTAINER, CAP AND SPRAYER FiledJan. 14. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l ENF/EN TOR.

' MELI. am

'RU s NEIN,

:IQfVTIUfiNEY Nov. 25, 1958 R, MELLQN COMBINATION CONTAINER, CAP ANDSPRYER 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Jan. 14, 1957 INVENTOR.

l RUSSELL MELLUN :HTTDRNEY nited States Patent O "ice COMBINATIONCONTAINER, CAP AND SPRAYER Russell Mellon, Sloatsburg, N. Y. ApplicationJanuary 14, 1957, Serial No. 634,027

1 Claim. (Cl. 29997) This invention relates to a combination containerof the bottle type, a removable closure cap therefor, and a spray devicenormally enclosed by said closure cap. The

present invention represents an improvement over the device shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,586,687, issued to me on February 19, 1952. The mainobject of the present invention is to provide a generally improveddevice of the character described, so designed as to be applicable tobottles or similar containers of various sizes, or of various neckdiameters.

A more specific object is to provide a combination device as statedwhich will be characterized by the disposition of the pump unit thereofdirectly within the stopper of the container, as distinguished fromprevious devices wherein the pump unit is located in the body portion ofthe bottle. By reason of the present arrangement, different Stoppers maybe selected, to be fitted onto a single pump unit, so that the pump unitand stopper assembly can be readily mounted in bottle necks of differentdiameters. In this way, the combination device constituting the presentinvention can be kept indefinitely, and positioned in any bottle that isconveniently accessible for the purpose of holding the liquid to besprayed.

A further object is to provide a generally improved pump unit capable`of assembly at low cost, while being fully eliicient in the dischargeof its intended functions.

Another object of importance is to provide a closure cap for the spraydevice so designed that the cap will fully seal the bottle againstleakage or evaporation of the liquid, while simultaneously retaining theplunger of the spray unit in a depressed, fully inoperative position ofadjustment.

A more specific object, in a modified form of the invention, is toinclude a stem or conduit depending from the pump unit within thecontainer which is adapted under all circumstances to extend axiallywithin the container fully to the bottom thereof, even though the bottlemay be of a length greater or less than a bottle in which the unit waspreviously disposed. It is proposed, in this regard, that the conduit=be self-adjusting in length, with its inlet end located ineveryinstance at the bottom of the bottle, to insure the passage of liquidthereinto even though the bottle `may be almost fully exhausted of itscontents.

In another modified form of the invention, it is an important object,further, to eliminate the necessity for sealing gaskets or the like onthe closure cap, by designing the cap in a manner such that whenthreaded onto the neck of a conventional bottle, a shoulder within thecap will sealably engage the nozzle of the device, to seal the pump unitagainst evaporation of liquid therethrough, with the cap at the Isametime depressing and rendering wholly inoperative the operating plungerof the spring unit.

Forfurther comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel 2,861,839 `Patented Nov. 2.5,:`

2 features of the invention are more particularly slet forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through the container, closurecap, and spray device in which parts remain in elevation, the closurecap being in its sealing position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section substantially on line 2-2 ofFig. l, the plunger and piston unit being shown in dotted and full linesin depressed and extended positions, respectively, the closure cap beingremoved.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the same scale as Fig. 2,substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig..4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the plungerassembly.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View showing the spray device mountedin a bottle of a size different from that shown in Fig. 1, the pump andconduit assembly remaining in elevation, the stern being of a modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the upperportion of another modified construction, in which portions remain inelevation and portions are shown broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. l there has been shown abottle 10 which may contain various liquids to be sprayed, such aswindow cleaners, insecticides, etc. The bottle has a neck 12 externallythreaded to receive the closure cap of the invention.

The spray device, generally designated 14, includes a plunger or pistongenerally designated 16 axially shiftable in a hollow cylinder 18 havinga reduced lower end receiving and fixedly secured to a tubular stem 20extending within the bottle. The stem is closed at the top but isprovided with a restricted passage 21 communicating with the interior ofcylinder 18. The end of the stem is dished around passage 21.

In Fig. 5, the spray unit 14 is identical to the first form of theinvention, but the stem construction is modified, and automaticallyextends or retracts according to the size of the bottle. Thus a bottle10a, smaller than bottle 10, is shown. In the modified form, acompression coil spring 26 is circumposed about a stem 20a. This bearsat its lower end against the upper end flange of a tubular extension 24.At its upper end, spring 26 abuts against the lower end 28 of cylinder18. Extension 24 is thus continuously biased in a direction to extendthe same to its maximum extent beyond stem 20a, into engagement with thebottom of container 10a- The lower end of extension 24 is formed open,and has inlet ports 30 angularly spaced uniformly about itscircumference.

It becomes apparent, therefore, that the device when formed as in Fig. 5may be inserted in bottles of different lengths and eiiiciently used ineach instance. In a long bottle such as shown in Fig. l, spring 26causes extension 24 to project beyond stem 20 a substantial distance, sothat the conduit defined by the stem and extension will adjust itself tothe overall length of the bottle with the inlet ports still beingdisposed directly at the bottom of the bottle, to insure the inflow ofliquid into the device even though the contents of the bottle have beenalmost fully exhausted. If the device were mounted in a short containersuch as shown at 10EL in Fig. 5, the extension 24 would be shifted inthe direction of the cylinder 18 against the restraint of spring 26 totelescope the stem 20 within extension 24 to a substantially greaterextent, thus reducing the overall length of the conduit extending fromthe bottom of the bottle to cylinder 18.

The self-adjusting conduit, while bein'g held against the bottom of thebottle despite the fact that the bottle may be shorter or longer thanone previously used, has

the desirable feature of remaining at all times in a position extendingaxially of the bottle, with the ports fully open.k Thisis Ydistinguishedfrom an arrangement, for example, in which a flexible hose might beinserted into the bottle, coiling irregularly therein in an arrangementinwh'i'clrthe inlet end of the hose might tend to be forced Vaway fromthe bottom of the container or might become wholly 'or partially closedby movement into a position directly against the bottom or side wall ofthe Container.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a stopper 32 of cork or otherresilientfse'aling material has an axial bore 34 in which the cylinder18 is snugly but removably engaged. Thus, the stopper can be slipped olfthe cylinder, to be replaced byadilerent'stopper of a diameter and/ orexterior shape di Vrent from'that shown in the drawing, for the purposeof fitting the' device into bottle necks of different diameters.

I n any event, the stopper used is tightly fitted upon the cylinderfa'ndhas a longitudinal passage 36 extending from end to end-of the stopperand open at both its ends, said "passage being Vin communication withbore 34 land defining an airvent when the spray unit is being used, tomaintain atmospheric pressure on the surface of the bottlecontents,'thereby to assure a proper pumping action. Cylinder 18 has acollarv 33 rigidly connected to it and sealing the passage at othertimes, responsive to al slight adjustment of the cylinder downwardly instopper 32.

The plunger 16 includes a hollow,`enlarged head 38 having a laterallyopening annulus 39 in which is fixedly engaged a nozzle 40 formed with arestricted outlet 41. Integrally formed on the upper end of the head isan arcuately depressed thumb rest 42, the ends of which projectlaterally outwardly from the head in opposite directions.

` At its lower end, head 38 has a reduced portion or neck 43 fixedlyengaged in the outer end of a plunger tube 44 formed at` its lower orinner end with an enlargement 45 having a rounded bottom surface seatingin and adhesively or otherwise fixedly engaged in a complementarydepression 47 of a rubber insert 46 having a leak-proof `wiping contactwith the wall of cylinder 13. Insert 4 6jhas-a reduced axial extension48 fixedly engaged in a tubular Vmember '5,0 in cylinder 18. Extension48 has an end wall formed with an opening 52.

Extending into member 50 and bearing against the perforated end wall ofinsert 46 is a compressionv coil 'spring 5,4, the other end of which hasa large convolution 'seating on a frusto-conical shoulder 56 provided atthe lower end of cylinder 18. The spring is formed with a lightconvolution 554 below the large convolution, at its extreme endzpressinglightly against a ball check valve S1 seated 'in the dished portion onthe upper end surface of the stem 20. The spring normally biases theplunger 16 to its extended, full line position of Fig. 2.

'When' the container and spring device are not in use during the actuallspraying of liquid, a plastic closure cap 6 6 4of invertedpcup shape isapplied to neck 12. Cap 66 is internally threaded at its lower open end,to receive the threaded neck of the bottle, and within the cap, adjacentthe threads thereof, there is formed'an inwardly directed,circumferential shoulder 68 to the underside of lwhigl iscemented anannular, compressible, sealing gas- The cap is so proportioned that whenapplied over the rest 4 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and threadedonto n eck 1 2,` it will fully depress the plunger to its dotted lineposition of Fig. 2. When the plunger rest is fully depressedrto tightlyengage the upper en'd of the head, the sealing gasket 70 will at thesame time be fully cornpressred against the neck'12 to insure positivelyagainst any leakage of liquid that might otherwise tend to develop.'Evaporation of liquid is also insured against, should such evaporationtend to occur through nozzle 4t2.

In use of the device, cap 66 is removed. Spring S4 is now free toexpand, and raises the plunger to its full line position of Fig. 2, withthe user holding the bottle in his hand while maintaining pressure onrest 42 with the thumb of the hand. The cylinder 18 is manually pulledupwardly a short distance through stopper 32 to unseat collar 33.

Then, the liquid is sprayed merely by alternately depressing the rest 42and then permitting it to move outwardly under the pressure of thespring 54. Each depression of the rest moves the plunger or pistonthrough its pressure stroke to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, sothat the piston reduces the size of the chamber dcned between the lowerend of insert 46 and the stem.

When pressure on rest 42 is released and spring 54 is permitted toexpand, raising the piston, the piston moves through its suction stroketo its full line position of Fig. 2. This develops suction in cylinder18 lifting ball valve 51 off its seat, causing liquid to be drawnupwardly through the stern 2@ into the Acylinder 18. On the nextpressure stroke of the piston the liquid, seeking an outlet, is forcedthrough the opening 52 and emerges in a spray through nozzle 40;

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 6, the inner construction ofthe spray or pump unit 141 is identical to that of the first form, andthe stopper 32 is also utilized. Further, stem 20B, spring 26, andconduit extension 24 of Fig. 5 may be employed. Alternatively, the stem20 ofFig. l may be used.

In this form yof the invention, the only differences are in the plungerhead, nozzle, thumb rest, an'd cap construction. The head 381D is shapedsubstantially similarly to the first form, except for having acontinuously extending, external collar 72, the top surface of which hasa transverse convexity 74. Opening through the convex surface is adischarge passage 411, so that the shoulder or collar 72 defines anozzle with a single opening, functioning similarly to nozzle 40.

Thumb rest 42b in this'forrn of the invention differs from the rst formin that it does not'project outwardly beyond the sides of the head 38h.Instead, it is of a diameter equal to that of the head, and is formedwith a depression in its top surface to receive ones thumb.

The closure cap 66b is internallythreaded at its lower end to engageneck 12, land intermediate its ends, the cap has `an enlargement withlan internal shoulder 68h, said enlargement being formed with atransversely concave, downwardly flaring inner side surface 78complementing the convexity 74 of collar 72. As a result, when cap 66bis threaded onto neck 12, it depresses rest 42b and hence the entireplunger 14h, similarly to the first form. At the time the rest is fullydepressed, the enlargement comes to bear tightly against the collar 72,sealing the discharge passage. This eliminates the need for specialgaskets, etc., due to the fact that the previous manual closing of thepassage 36 of the stopper 32 prevents leakage between the wall -of thestopper and the inner surface of neck 12, while closeure cap 66bprevents evaporation or leakage through the spray device.

While I have'illustnated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit mystelf to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the .appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and `desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

A combined closure cap, container, and sprayer comprising a containerfor liquid including a neck, a closure cap removably fitted about saidneck, a stopper engageable in the neck, said stopper having 'an axialbore and a spray device'including a hollow cylinder engaged in andadjustable'in the axial bore of, said stopper, a tubular ,stem extendingfrom the cylinder` intothe container, and

5 a tubular plunger working in the cylinder, a ball check valve on thestern openable on the suction stroke of the plunger and closable on thepressure stroke thereof to force liquid from the cylinder into theplunger, the plunger further including a discharge nozzle providing anoutlet for said liquid vand a thumb rest, the cylinder including acollar adapted to `bear against one end of the stopper to limit movementof the cylinder axially of the stopper in one direction when the cap isin operative position, t-he stopper having a longitudinal passageconstituting an lair vent below the collar for communicating theinterior of the container with atmosphere, said collar when engagedagainst the stopper closing the vent, said closure cap when in operativeposition on the neck bearing against the thumb rest to shift the plungerthrough its pressure stroke and maintain the same in the position towhich it is so shifted, said cylinder upon downward adjustment carryingsaid collar against the stopper for sealing the air vent.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 751,238Yost Feb. 2, 1904 2,103,932 IBernhardt Dec. 28, 1937 2,119,884 LohseJune 7, 1938 2,281,604 Smith May 5, 1942 2,410,763 Uhl Nov. 5, 19462,586,687 Mellon Feb. 19, 1952 2,729,506 Ziherl Ian. 3, 1956

